The Wolverine Now

Nov. 17, 2013 SoggyTop Northwestern In Triple OT Survival The Wolverines M Redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner scrambled for a five-yard touchdown and also ran in the enusing two-point conversion in the third overtime to provide the Wolverines the winning margin. photo by lon horwedel By John Borton ichigan dangled a mere second away from a third straight loss, but refused to absorb it. In frantic, heart-stopping fashion, the Wolverines scrambled to send their sodden, windswept struggle with Northwestern into overtime, then won it in triple OT, 27-19. Devin Gardner's five-yard scramble into the end zone in the third extra session ended it, after fifth-year senior Brendan Gibbons' fire drill 44-yard field goal at the end of regulation gave the Wolverines a chance. Moisture streaked the eye black for a third straight week, but this time, it involved no tears. "This team, we're Wolverines," fifthyear senior captain Taylor Lewan said defiantly afterwards. "There's 133 years of Michigan football we're representing. We're never going to have a breaking point or back down, I don't care if we're down 50-something to zero. We'll keep fighting no matter what." Gardner (24-of-43, 226 yards, one TD) never stopped fighting. He led an all-run third overtime, bolting for 12 yards, and, following two rushes by freshman back Derrick Green (19 carries, 79 yards), raced in on an option keeper. Gardner then ran in the two-point conversion. The Wolverines protected their eight-point advantage by hounding Northwestern's Trevor Siemian (19-of-28, 153 yards, one TD) into reverse in the overtime. Fifth-year senior safety Thomas Gordon picked off Siemian's final desperation heave into the end zone, ending the marathon. "This team was fired up after the end of regulation," Gardner said. "It felt like it was meant to be. We came out and won the football game." 27 19 Following an afternoon into evening when it didn't feel meant to be for the Wolverines, they found a way in the extra sessions. The teams swapped touchdowns in the first overtime, Michigan logging only their second TD in 12 quarters on an incredible one-handed scoring grab by freshman tight end Jake Butt. Up 16-9 with the first touchdown of the game, the Wolverines still couldn't exhale. Northwestern drove right back, quarterback Kain Colter (19 carries, 78 yards, one TD) sneaking in from a yard out to retie the game. In the second OT, Wildcats placekicker Jeff Budzien nailed a 36-yard field goal, and Gibbons' 29-yarder forced the third overtime. Michigan's boot occurred after sophomore receiver Devin Funchess (seven catches, 61 yards) scrambled to recover his own fumble that could have

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